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There are always criminals that are looking to take advantage of a bad situation to make money for themselves. Whether it is someone pretending to be collecting money for a charity or offering to fix damage on your home after a storm, you need to be aware of those trying to steal your money. One of the recent issues has been ‘storm chasers’ that come into towns after a big hail storm and offer fast, cheap repairs on homes with roof damage.

The problem with these ‘storm chasers’ is they rarely give homeowners what they pay for. They either do a poor job fixing the roof, then leave town, or worse, take a down payment and never do any work at all. If you have roof damage due to a hail storm, be careful who you hire to fix your roof. Here are a few tips to avoid being taken advantage of by a storm chaser.

• Choose a local company. Don’t hire a contractor from out of town. Make sure the roofing company is locally owned and operated.
• Check their license and insurance information. Contractors must be licensed to work in the city where you live. This should be public record.
• Look at the permits. Pull the permits needed to do the job and make sure the company name on the permit matches the company you have working for you.
• Never pay cash for your down payment. If possible, use a credit or debit card for your down payment. This can be easier tracked and is often protected through your bank for fraud.

The golden rule to avoid criminals is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. So when someone comes knocking on your door offering to repair your roof for a low price or right away after a hail storm, there is a good chance they are storm chasers. Hire a legit, local company that will do the job right and stand behind their work.

Posted on behalf of:
Atwood Home Builders
227 W 8^th Ave
Homestead, PA 15120
(412) 638-1262

Whether you own the latest iPhone or an older model Samsung Galaxy, you know how expensive these new cell phones can be. The old ‘free’ phone is hard to come by if you want the latest technology and many people spend hundreds of dollars to get the newest cell phone on the market. Once you finally have that cell phone in your possession, you hope that it will last a year or two before you need to upgrade again. Unfortunately, these small and expensive devices can be easily damaged. So how can you protect your investment?

Protecting Your New Cell Phone

Your cell phone goes everywhere you go, making it even more likely to get damaged. From impact and pressure damage from dropping or sitting on your phone to water damage from spilled drinks or being dropped in the pool, your phone can be exposed to many hazards. Although there are no fool-proof ways to protect your phone, it is worth the investment to add some protection, such as:

• Hard cover cases. Hard cover cases can reduce the amount of cracks and scratches your new phone will get. It is much less expensive to replace a case than your phone.
• Screen protectors. Protection for your screen is a must if you are accident prone or lead an active lifestyle.
• Skins or covers. While not as effective as a hard case, skins or another decorative covers still provide some protection while personalizing the look of your phone.

But even with screen protectors and cases, cell phones still can get damaged. The good news is that a cracked screen or water damage does not necessarily mean that you need a new phone. There are now many convenient cell phone repair shops in malls and retail shopping centers that can fix most cell phone issues for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

By using protection gear and the occasional cell phone repair at a local shop, you can make your new cell phone last – at least until the next hot model of phone is released!

Posted on behalf of Cellairis

Golf carts are no longer just for the guys wearing bright colored pants on the course. You see them in airports, at amusement parks and at almost any business that has a large amount of property. One other place you are beginning to see more and more of these small utility vehicles is on the street. Street legal golf carts are becoming more popular for quick transportation that is green and cost effective.

Uses of a Street Legal Utility Cart

Street legal golf or utility carts have a few different features than a recreational model. They are equipped with additional safety features like windshields, seat belts and even rear view mirrors. They also must be able to travel the speed limit of a residential area, usually about 35 MPH. Each state and municipality may have different laws on what golf carts must have to be considered street legal.

So what can you use a street legal cart for and what are the benefits? Here are a few reasons people invest in these versatile vehicles.

• Neighborhood vehicle. If you live in a neighborhood or community that has amenities like a club house, store or pool that are blocks away from your home, a street legal cart is a great way to quickly get around the neighborhood.
• College campuses. Going from one end of campus to another is quicker and easier with a street legal cart.
• Green option. Golf carts are very energy efficient and are easy on the environment. They offer a green option for local transportation in areas with low speed limits.

For short trips, street legal golf carts can be a great way to get around. They are economical, easy to park and perfect for those who cannot walk for long distances. Just make sure to check the laws in your area on what features must be included on your cart to make it street legal.

Posted on behalf of:
Action Specialty Carts
1891 McFarland Pkwy
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 888-0892

Wood decks look beautiful when they are newly stained. However, after a few years the stain can begin to fade and chip and pretty soon your wood deck is more of an eyesore than beautiful. However, a fresh coat of stain can bring back that luster and make your deck look like new again. But before you grab a bucket of stain and a brush, you need to prepare the wood for staining.

Removing the Old Stain

If you have wood stain that is flaking off your deck, you must remove that old stain before adding new stain. To do that, you have two choices. You can use a pressure washer to remove any grime, mildew and loosen the stain, then use a stripping agent to remove the stain. This is time consuming and the chemicals used are very toxic. Many people prefer not to use these harsh chemicals that can affect their landscaping and soil around their deck.

The second option is to remove the stain completely by pressure washing, using no chemicals at all. To do this, you must use a higher intensity of water. While this will remove the stain, it can damage the wood of your deck and create grooves. It takes a professional touch to be able to remove only the stain and not harm the wood. If you want to use this method, it is best to hire a professional pressure washing service that has the experience and equipment to remove the stain without damaging the deck.

Once the stain is completely removed, you will want to wait about a week for the wood to completely dry before adding new stain. Make sure there is no moisture on the deck in the 24-hours before staining and follow the directions for the stain you buy. Before long your deck will look like new again.

Posted on behalf of:
Impact Pressure Washing
105 Commerce Drive
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(678) 697-7127

Your home’s foundation is the core structure that holds everything else in place. If it begins to shift, crack, sink or have other issues, it can endanger your entire home to sustaining major damage. However, most foundation problems can be repaired before major damage occurs to the home if you know the signs. Here are some of the top signs that your home may have foundation damage or problems: 

• Wall cracking. One of the most noticeable signs of a foundation is cracks in interior or exterior walls. Settling or movement of the foundation can cause walls to crack above.
• Sagging floors and doorways. If there are bows in the flooring or in doorways, it can be from a change in the foundation. You may also notice that flooring no longer meets perfectly in corners, with gaps between the flooring and wall.
• Bowing walls. Any wall, load bearing or not, that is beginning to bow is a sign of a larger structural problem, often the foundation.
• Strange odors. One of the signs that is not visual, yet can be a warning sign of foundation issues, is a strange or foul odor. This can be from mold and mildew growing in the home due to cracks in the walls and basement foundation.
• Water pooling. If there is excess water pooling around the foundation or in the crawl space under the home, this is a sign of trouble. Excess water is one of the largest factors in foundation damage. 

At the first sign of possible foundation issues, call your local foundation repair contractor. They can inspect your home and foundation, then offer repair solutions to protect your home from further damage.

Posted on behalf of:
Anglin’s Foundation & Masonry Repairs
Marietta, GA
(770) 422-2924